New Zealand Women navigated their way to the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 after a closely contested game against West Indies Women to set up what promises to be an enthralling final to be played in Dubai on Sunday.
The White Ferns got off to a decent start with the bat on opting to bat first. Young Georgia Plimmer found the fence twice during the powerplay as New Zealand ended with 32 on the board. The fourth over which Chinelle Henry bowled on the trot was her most expensive, with her ending up conceding 24 in a marathon spell. Karishma Ramharack, arguably West Indies’ most lethal bowler in the tournament, got in on the act in her very first over after she dismissed Suzie Bates who got her timber disturbed while trying to reverse a quicker ball.
The first delivery of Deandra Dottin into the attack saw Henry getting hit on the face while losing the ball in the lights, with her leaving the field to take medical recourse. However, Dottin was quick to get into the action as she held out to Ramharack the very next delivery. Brooke Halliday, who was looking dangerous during her time in the middle, was Dottin’s second victim. A nine-run fourth over by Dottin saw her missing out on a five-wicket haul, but she had done her job. Her wickets were more than successful in ensuring New Zealand were restricted to a total of 128 at the end of their quota.
Starting the run-chase, Eden Carson did get hit for a couple of boundaries off Qiana Joseph but managed to have the last laugh at the end. The right-arm off-spinner had her second in her next over as West Indies faltered at 25 in the first six. With the firepower to come, it was not a lost cause for the Women in Maroon. However, things took a different turn when first Stephanie Taylor and two overs later, Hayley Matthews, were dismissed. A stunner on the fence courtesy of Maddy Green saw Amelia Kerr pick up her first wicket, with things looking grimmer than ever with 64 required off the final six.
A 23-run over with Dottin going berserk saw the Windies come back into the mix. However, the most heavy blow was that of Dottin. That was pretty much Game, Set, and Match for New Zealand, with Bates holding on to bowl her first at the very last. Although Zaida James did place one through the gap reducing the equation to 11 from 5, it was B ates who clung on during the crunch situation to set up a Dubai date in the making, an entire 14 years after New Zealand reached the final of the competition for the second time in a row. West Indies Women would be feeling hard done by their fortune since the match was in their grasp until the mid-innings break.
Here’s how X reacted to the second semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024:
Eden Carson 3/29 (4 Overs) 👏👏👏👏#T20WorldCup @WHITE_FERNS
— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) October 18, 2024
#EdenCarson ..you absolute beauty 👏
— SparklingWater (@Keira4Walsh) October 18, 2024
NEW ZEALAND ARE IN THE FINAL 🔥
They pull off a stunning win over West Indies to make their first Women’s #T20WorldCup final since 2010 👏#WhateverItTakes | #WIvNZ pic.twitter.com/9bwLD48ust
— Ashvin Mishra Bharat (@ashvinmisra) October 18, 2024
The last time New Zealand qualified for the Women’s T20 World Cup Finals was in 2010 when they defeated the West Indies.
They achieve the same feat 14 years later.
— Jeet V. (Women’s Cricket) (@Jeetv27WC) October 18, 2024
New Zealand defeats West Indies to reach finals of World Cup of 2024 T20 Women World Cup.#T20WomensWorldCup#WIvsNZ pic.twitter.com/wUkVl1HcMP
— Paralympics 2024 Updates (@Badminton100719) October 18, 2024
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